1995

"It's a pity that there aren't more tracks like 'Free As A Bird', but then again, it's a pity that John died!"

The New Year kicks off with The Beatles' 1965 film Help! being the first programme screened, just after midnight, on the Central region of ITV. (This is its eighth screening on UK TV and its first ever single regional broadcast.)

Apple Corps Ltd, with Neil Aspinall at the helm, moves its operations from Mayfair to new offices situated in a three-storey building in Ovington Square, West London. Sharing these premises are the offices of George's Harrisongs publishing company, which had recently moved out of its former premises in Cadogan Square, London, shared of course with George's other former business interest. Handmade Films.

It is reported that Apple Corps for this year have received, by their annual tax returns, a sum totalling £18.5 million.

At his AIR Studios complex in London, George Martin begins work on his compilation album In My Life.

For two more days, and a full year since beginning work on 'Free As A Bird', Paul, George and Ringo reunite at Paul's Mill studios in Sussex, where recordings for 'Real Love' are started. The three Beatles work on the track in much the same way as they recorded 'Free As A Bird', with Paul, George and Ringo using John's demo as a backing track and recording guitar and drums instrumentation around it.

Unfortunately, for Jeff Lynne, there is an unwelcome technical problem with John's original demo tape, as he recalls: "The problem I had with 'Real Love' was that not only was there a 60 cycles/min hum going on but there was also a terrible amount of hiss, because it had been recorded at a low level. I don't know how many generations down this copy was, but it sounded like at least a couple. Then there were clips all the way through it. There must have been about a hundred of them. We'd spend a day on it, then listen back and still find loads more things wrong. We could magnify them, grab them, and wipe them out. It didn't have any effect on John's voice because we were just dealing with the air surrounding him in between phrases. That took about a week to clean up before it was even usable and transferable to a master."

Paul: "I don't quite like it as much as 'Free As A Bird' because I think 'Free As A Bird' is more powerful. But it's catchier. It's a pity that there aren't more tracks like 'Free As A Bird', but then again, it's a pity that John died!"

The Beatles and Jeff Lynne speeded up John's demo so that their new version is a semi-tone higher than the original and decided to incorporate as little state of the art equipment as possible in order to give the track a timeless "Beatles feel". The introduction to 'Real Love' is played by Paul on a celeste, the same instrument that John played on The Beatles' 1969 Abbey Road recording 'Because'. In addition, Paul adds a harmonium to the recording of 'Real Love', the exact same instrument played by John during the recording of 'We Can Work It Out' in 1965.

Jeff Lynne: "Paul used his double bass, originally owned by Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black, and we tracked it with a Fender Jazz. Paul went direct to the desk and also used his Mega Boogie amp and we took a mixture of the two signals. George used a couple of Stratocasters, a modem Clapton style and his psychedelic Strat that's jacked up for the bottleneck stuff on 'Free As A Bird'. They also played six-string acoustics and Ringo played his Ludwig kit. When you hear George and Paul sing along with John, you go 'God, it's The Beatles!' Absolutely the greatest group ever. When they played, it was really tight playing together. Just like they'd always been playing together. 'Real Love' is a great song. A much simpler song than 'Free As A Bird', sort of a love song. And it's a bouncier song, a beautiful tune as well, and they all do harmonies with John. They all join in and have a great time."

Paul: "It was fun doing it. Unlike 'Free As A Bird', it had all the words and music and we were more like 'sidemen' to John, which was joyful, and I think we did a good job. I think George actually liked 'Real Love' a little better. It's just a matter of opinion, they are both good songs. I think it is slightly deceptive 'Real Love' because it's one of those the more you hear it, the more you go, 'Ohh, ohh!' "

During this session, work on the second day continues briefly on the unreleased track 'Now And Then'. Jeff Lynne recalls: "The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we didn't really finish. It was a bluesy sort of ballad, I suppose, in A minor. It was a very sweet song. I like it a lot. Should it ever be completed it would probably end up as either 'Now And Then' or 'Miss You'. I wish we could have finished it."

Anthology documentary director Geoff Wonfor is invited by the three Beatles to tape the 'Real Love' sessions for inclusion in the 'Real Love' promotional film clip. The director Kevin Godley recalls: "It was to be a discreet fly on the wall thing and they didn't want to be lit or aware of the cameras. They just told Geoff to take along a tape machine and a Betacam and gather some footage. I suppose everybody realised what a momentous occasion it was and that it should be covered on video."

(Further sessions by Paul, George and Ringo take place on March 20 and 21 - see entry.)

In the States, Ringo and his All-Starr Band reappear in a pre-recorded segment on the ABC TV show In Concert.

In the UK, John's first wife Cynthia releases her first solo single, a cover of the 1968 Mary Hopkin track 'Those Were The Days'.

On what was long thought to be George's 52nd birthday, a pre-filmed appearance by Mr. Harrison during part three of The Peter Sellers Story is transmitted this evening on BBC2 in the UK.

It is reported that George is facing serious financial problems after filing a $25 million (approximately £16 million) lawsuit against his former Handmade Films partner and business adviser Denis O' Brien at the Los Angeles superior court.

The Beatles Book Monthly in England publishes a worldwide exclusive, revealing that the American Westwood One radio station has concluded an exclusive deal with Paul to broadcast a unique 15-part radio series called Oobu Joobu, devoted to and starring the former Beatle. Paul, it is reported, will act out a variety of DJ roles (including one as a Jamaican), and will broadcast previously unheard tapes from his own archives such as live recordings and studio outtakes. When MPL, Paul's company, is asked about this, they reply: "Rubbish ... never heard of it!" Even so, Paul has still found time to appear in a short home video promoting the series, intended for the private use of Norm Pattiz, the chairman of the Westwood One network. (The station was responsible for the hugely successful, long running series The Lost Lennon Tapes.) Meanwhile, Suzy And The Red Stripes (better known as Linda and her fellow animal rights protester, the comedy writer Carla Lane) return to the world of pop music when they contribute the song 'White Coated Man', a track first recorded in 1988, to the 13-track compilation album Animal Magnetism.

EMI in the UK releases 'Baby It's You' (from the BBC album), 'I'll Follow The Sun' (from the radio show Top Gear, transmitted on November 17,1963), 'Devil In Her Heart' (Pop Go The Beatles, July 16, 1963) and 'Boys' (Pop Go The Beatles, June 25, 1963) as The Beatles 27th official single. EMI announces that, considering 'Baby It's You' (from the BBC album) is the main track of the single, they would have preferred the release to coincide with Valentine's Day on February 14.

Yoko and Sean join Paul, Linda and their children Heather, Stella and James at Paul's Mill recording studios in East Sussex to record a spontaneous track called 'Hiroshima, It's Always A Beautiful Blue Sky', a song commemorating the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb in Japan.

Again, Paul, George and Ringo assemble at The Mill Studios in Sussex, England, where further work is started, and then quickly shelved, on the track 'Now And Then'. Apple Corps' boss Neil Aspinall comments on 'Now And Then': "The song has been partly recorded in 'embryonic form' before it got put on the back burner, and that's where it stayed. The song was never intended to be released." Neil does not explain why The Beatles had bothered to record it in the first place. The idea of additional recording on 'Grow Old With Me' has now been scrapped altogether, as Paul explains: "John's original demo required too much work." The next Paul, George and Ringo session is scheduled for May 15 and 16 (see entry).

At a fundraising reception held at the Royal College of Music, St. James's Palace, in St. James, London, SW1, Paul breaks from Beatles reunion sessions by premiering a new eight-minute, classical styled, piece of solo music for piano. The item, entitled 'A Leaf', is performed by the 22-year-old award-winning Russian pianist Anya Alexeyev in the presence of The Royal College's patron. Prince Charles. Following the performance by Anya, Paul takes to the stage with Elvis Costello to perform their composition 'Mistress And Maid'. Then, after a solo set from Costello, Paul sings 'For No One' and 'Yesterday' to the accompaniment of the string ensemble The Brodsky Quartet. Paul concludes the performance with a rousing uptempo version on the piano of 'Lady Madonna'. Admission is free of charge and by invitation only, although guests are expected to make their own donation, in the region of £250. (A version of 'Leaf is released as a single by EMI's classical division, in the UK on April 24.)

MPI home video in America releases the one hour documentary You Can't Do That -The Making Of A Hard Day's Night. This fascinating programme, hosted by Phil Collins, who appeared in the crowd during the concert sequence of the film, features a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Beatles' first film back in 1964, plus the first official release of 'You Can't Do That', from the concert sequence at the Scala Theatre, cut from the original film but saved due to its transmission on the May 24, 1964, edition of CBS Television's The Ed Sullivan Show.

In Chiswick, West London, the three Beatles, Paul, George and Ringo, take a break this morning from watching the early versions of the Anthology in the viewing rooms at Wendell Road and decide to drop into a nearby cafe for refreshments. So surprised at the sight of the three surviving Beatles standing in front of him, the cafe's owner screams and promptly sends a tray laden with cups and plates crashing to the floor. The Beatles laugh at the incident and settle down at a nearby table. George leaves early and heads for Cobham in Surrey, where he is seen examining a brand new Rocket Car at a private afternoon press launch.

The famous picture of "The Threatles", Paul, George and Ringo, taken by Apple staff photographer Tommy Hanley and published on the front cover of the Sun newspaper on Tuesday October 3, 1995, is taken today in a session at Apple's new Ovington Square offices in London. The candid photography lasts between 4:45 and 5:05pm.

Meanwhile, today's edition of The White Room on Channel 4, features the first-ever complete screening of a colour version of The Beatles' 1969 promotional film for 'The Ballad Of John And Yoko'.

Away from Anthology-related business, Paul spends time this month secretly finishing off his radio series Oobu Joobu at his home studios in East Sussex.

Apple approaches Peter Blake, the designer of the famous 1967 Sgt. Pepper album sleeve, for his ideas on the forthcoming Beatles Anthology albums and videos releases. Blake recalls the meeting: "After a few minutes I realised that they were asking me to Pitch for the job. They were asking five other people as well as me, so not only was it a way for them to get some free ideas, it was also bloody insulting. I decided that I didn't want to do it, so I called back to tell them ... I said, you either want me to do it, or you don't. And they said, well, the person we really wanted was David Hockney! So I called their bluff and gave them David Hockney's home number and said go on, call him, and if he does want to do it, then great and if not, then come back to me. So they called David and he didn't want to do it, as I suspected. I meanwhile had put my offer in writing, and the big tactical error I made was mentioning that this would be a good opportunity to recompense me for paying so little for Sgt. Pepper. I didn't hear anything after that. I'm not surprised, but I'm not going to start auditioning at my age."

The Beatles' 'Baby It's You' enters the Music Week Top 75 singles chart at number seven. ITV's The Chart Show in the UK, premieres the Apple promotional film for 'Baby It's You'. Among its highlights is an amazing previously unseen colour home movie of The Beatles from 1963 taken outside the BBC's Paris Studios in London. (The alternative video clip for 'Baby It's You', compiled by Capitol Records in America, features comparatively standard Beatles archive film clips, such as excerpts from BBC TV's The Mersey Sound (1963) and various scenes from the A Hard Day's Night related show and film.)

The British radio and television personality Kenny Everett, whose long association with The Beatles dates back to his coverage of their American tours of the sixties, dies in his sleep at his London home, suffering from an AIDS-related illness. Kenny, of course, was responsible for the editing of The Beatles' 1968 and 1969 fan club recordings.

Paul, Linda and over 160 building workers and VIPs, attend the "topping off" ceremony (when the last brick is placed) to mark the completion of the Rye Memorial Care Centre, a new hospital on the outskirts of the McCartneys' hometown in East Sussex. The centre has been built largely due to their efforts.

The UK press reports of the "biggest bidding war in TV history" for the upcoming Anthology television series. But it is Channel 4 who reveal the first concrete details of the shows, when, during their press conference at the Golden Rose TV festival in Switzerland, they announce that, "Apple are offering The Beatles Anthology to stations in the UK as a six-part television series," adding that "they are asking £6 million for the shows!" (The BBC and ITV have, apparently, offered only half that sum at this point.) A source close to The Beatles, reveals that they would prefer the BBC to screen the programmes because it's a national network with few regional variations and the series would be broadcast without any interruptions by commercials. However, according to the national press, it is Channel 4, run by Michael Grade, a self-confessed big Beatles fan, who are favourites to grab the UK television rights. Grade tells the Daily Mirror. "I don't care what it costs!", insinuating he will outbid both BBC and ITV to screen the series. In the Evening Standard, Grade proclaims: "Where else should the Beatles story appear on British TV but on fab four? BBC TV appears to be broke and ITV haven't had any music on their channel since Mantovani - so Channel 4 is the natural home." Elsewhere in the Standard, ITV boss Marcus Plantin announces: "Apple would be mad to sell the series to Channel 4. We can easily double the audience, and this is part and parcel of 20th Century history. The Beatles affected everybody. All three channels are exceptionally determined to get the show."

The agonising wait for any definite news on the forthcoming Beatles Anthology series ends when ABC TV in America holds a press conference in California to announce the first major details for the series. The press release, credited jointly to Apple Corps Ltd in London and ABC TV, is handed out after the conference and reads as follows:

"DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THE BEATLES WILL BE TOLD IN THE BAND'S OWN WORDS IN A FIVE-HOUR SPECIAL WHICH WILL AIR OVER TWO NIGHTS IN NOVEMBER, 1995, ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK."

"The definitive history of The Beatles, the most significant band in the annals of popular music, will finally be told in the band's own words, in a five-hour television special which will air on the ABC Television Network over two nights in November, 1995. The special, featuring the world premiere of two songs - the first new Beatles recordings in 25 years - was announced jointly today by ABC Entertainment president Ted Harbert, and Apple Corps Ltd.

"The unprecedented musical event will feature John, Paul, George and Ringo, with the latter three bringing additional instrumentation, voices and arrangements to two unreleased John Lennon songs on which he sings and plays.

" 'The Beatles story will be an extraordinary event on ABC,' Harbert said. 'The five-hour special is designed to provide a comprehensive look at the lives and sound of the band that changed the culture of a generation.'

"The surviving Beatles will teil their own stories in exclusive interviews, and the special will incorporate a rich archive of interviews on audio and video tape left by the late John Lennon. Together the four recall the group's formation in Liverpool and its meteoric rise, along with seminal moments from their career - such as the first trip to the United States, the making of their films, and inside stories behind specific record releases.

"The special will also reveal the impact of these developments on their private lives, including reminiscences by other key players in The Beatles' story. There will also be never-before-seen footage of the legendary musicians in their youth through home movies, film outtakes and other rarities.

"The new Beatles songs featured on the special, 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love', will be released by Apple Records.

"The making of the television special and associated video series has been the responsibility of Apple Productions Ltd., a company owned by the surviving Beatles and the estate of John Lennon, administered by his widow, Yoko Ono Lennon. The executive producer is Neil Aspinall, the producer is Chips Chipperfield and the director is Geoffrey Wonfor."

No mention is made of the title of the series. Reporters ask if the current title, The Beatles Anthology, will remain. George has expressed on many occasions his desire to call the series The Beatles By The Beatles, as, in his words: "This will reflect the fact that it was made by the group's company and will be narrated by John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves."

Aside from all the Anthology excitement, further details of Paul's Westwood One Oobu Joobu radio series is announced. Instead of running to 15 parts, as previously reported, the shows, which begin fransmissions on Monday May 29 (the Memorial Day holiday in America) will run for 13 parts. The producer for the series is Eddy Pumer, a one-time member of the 1960's psychedelic pop group Kaleidoscope. He describes Oobu Joobu as one of McCartney's "best kept secrets" and says Paul has been working on the series since 1975! Paul had, in fact, hired Pumer for the producer's role back in 1981 when he was working at Capital Radio in London. "Paul explained to me that he wanted to do a little late-night show, then it evolved into this," Pumer tells Billboard magazine, adding: "Paul's former group will not be featured in the show. Oobu Joobu is Paul, not The Beatles!"

With the imminent release of 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love' now public knowledge, Paul, George and Ringo reconvene at Paul's The Mill home studio in Sussex where they complete the final parts on the track 'Real Love', which is to be released as the second "comeback single", because Paul and George feel the song is "lyrically more complete". Paul, George and Ringo also spend time recording their third "comeback single", this time the McCartney-Harrison track 'All For Love', which is only their second ever collaboration after the 1958 track 'In Spite Of All The Danger'. Unfortunately, this turns into a disaster and the sessions are aborted early. The group then decides to shelve plans for any further Beatles reunion recording sessions, with George the chief instigator behind this. Though Paul is apparently optimistic that something can be done with the recording, George is not, emphasising that he does not want it issued on Anthology 3. Also on May 16, Linda officially opens the new £10 million Ross Young food factory in Fakenham, Norfolk, which is dedicated to the exclusive production of Linda's range of vegetarian food.

Paul, Linda, their son James and the recording engineer Geoff Emerick fly to Steve Miller's studios in Seattle, Washington for a further week of recordings originally started back in 1993. These sessions now continue until Tuesday May 23, where the McCartneys invite Miller back to their studios in East Sussex to resume their work. (Songs from this period will later appear on Paul's 1997 album Flaming Pie.)

In the Penthouse mixing suite at Abbey Road in London, George Martin, with occasional help from Paul, George and Ringo, begins listening and mixing the tracks intended for The Beatles Anthology CDs. Paul: "It's deja vu really. We're sitting in Abbey Road Studio Two, where we always worked, listening to the work we did when we were twenty." During one of these sessions Martin, accompanied by Paul, George and Ringo, goes on a nostalgic meander around the famous Abbey Road building, even dropping in on a recording session by Michael Nyman in Studio Three. The actor Mel Gibson, in Studio One observing the soundtrack recordings for his film Braveheart, is apparently overcome with emotion when he is informed that three of The Beatles are currently in the building for the first time together in 25 years. Anthology director Bob Smeaton shoots some video footage of the three Beatles with George Martin at the Abbey Road listening sessions; again they are intended for the Anthology programmes. The footage fails to appear.

Hours after returning from Seattle, Paul is stopped as he enters his MPL offices in London, and, rather wearily, he offers his tribute to the former prime minister Harold Wilson who had died the previous day. "He was very canny," says Paul. "The last time we met him, somebody from the press tried to put a microphone in his face and tried to get us to say something indiscreet with him. But he put the microphone in his pocket and just carried on puffing away on his pipe. I liked him a lot, he seemed like a nice man." Paul's tribute is screened in tonight's edition of London Tonight on the Carlton ITV station.

In New York, Ringo begins two days of interviews to promote his forthcoming American All-Starr Band tour, scheduled to begin in St. Louis on Sunday July 2.

In America, Ringo's promotional appearances continue when he returns to the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City to make a return appearance on Later Night With Letterman, the top-rated CBS TV chat show hosted by David Letterman. During the latter half of Ringo's interview, he rather sportingly wears a "Beatle wig!"

Back in England, at Paul's Mill home studios m East Sussex, the McCartneys return the favour by playing host to Steve Miller. Again they spend a week recording and jamming, which lasts until Thursday June 1, when Miller returns home.

Still in New York, rehearsals, originally planned for Vancouver, begin for Ringo's upcoming All-Starr Band tour of Japan and the States. During this first get-together, Ringo rehearses, and quickly shelves, the following songs from his repertoire: 'I'm The Greatest', 'Weight Of The World' and 'Octopus's Garden'. In addition, the songs 'American Woman', performed by Randy Bachman, ''Twist And Shout', by John Entwistle, 'A Beautiful Morning', by Felix Cavaliere and 'Outa-Space', by Billy Preston, are also rehearsed and subsequently scrapped from their concert set list. (Rehearsals resume in Los Angeles, where Ringo will stay before departing to Japan on Sunday June 11.)

As announced, the first part of Paul's 13-part Westwood One radio series Oobu Joobu begins transmissions in America with a two-hour special. (Paul reveals that the title Oobu Joobu is inspired by the character of Monsieur Ubu, created by the absurdist playwright Alfred Jarry.) Eleven one-hour programmes through the summer culminating in the final show, a two-hour special on September 4, which happens to be America's Labor Day, follow this first show. Over the coming weeks, with Paul as the host and DJ, listeners are treated to many previously unheard McCartney live and studio outtakes (taken from his private archive totalling over 250 hours) in a feature called 'Rude Corner', which refers to demos recorded at his home Rude Studios in East Sussex. Other highlights of the series include Linda's cookery menus and conversations with fellow musicians such as Beach Boy Brian Wilson, Carl Perkins (who duets with Paul on 'Honey Don't'), Chrissie Hynde, Little Richard, Jeff Beck, Elvis Costello, John Entwistle, Pete Townshend, and the Wayne's World actor Mike Myers.

The idea for Oobu Joobu is already proving to be a great success for the station, with many of the advertisement slots already taken. "This is the kind of thing we had to be involved with," Westwood One chairman Norm Pattiz announces, "because it's a history-making series. I love it because it's wildly creative and breaks a lot of rules. To me, it's the height of creativity."

The US stations subscribing to the series include WXRK (In New York), KLSX (Los Angeles), WXRT (Chicago), WZLX-FM (Boston), WZGC (Atlanta), WUSA-FM (Tampa), WKLH (Milwaukee) and KGB-FM (San Diego).

In the States, it is announced that Paul and Linda are to follow in Ringo and George's footsteps by supplying a voice-over for the top-rated American cartoon series The Simpsons.

John's 1967 film How I Won The War, directed by Richard Lester, is released on MGM/UA home video in the UK, as a special limited edition version to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the VE Day celebrations.

Prior to the start of Ringo's Third All-Starr Band tour of America, guitarist Nils Lofgren and saxophonist Clarence Cummings drop out of the group, an item reported in the newspapers on April 7. Mark Farmer, formerly of The Grand Funk Railroad and Mark Rivera, the sax player for Billy Joel, replace them this month. Rehearsals for the impending tour are scheduled to begin in Vancouver, Canada, later this month.

Ringo & His Third All-Starr Band
Tour Of Japan and America
Wednesday June 14 - Sunday September 3
(Note: the last eight scheduled dates of the tour are cancelled)

The line-up of musicians accompanying Ringo on this tour include his son Zak, Mark Rivera (on saxophone), Mark Farner (formerly of Grand Funk Railroad), Billy Preston, Randy Bachman (Bachman Turner Overdrive), Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals) and John Entwistle (The Who). Their repertoire for the shows largely consists of the following: 'Don't Go Where The Road Don't Go', 'I Wanna Be Your Man', 'It Don't Come Easy' (all performed by Ringo), 'The Locomotion' (performed by Mark Farner), 'Nothing For Nothing' (Billy Preston), 'Taking Care Of Business' (Randy Bachman), 'People Get Ready' (Felix Cavaliere), 'Boris The Spider' (John Entwistle), 'Boys' (Ringo), 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet' (Randy Bachman), 'You're Sixteen', 'Yellow Submarine' (both by Ringo), 'My Wife' (John Entwistle), 'Honey Don't', 'Act Naturally' (both by Ringo), 'Groovin' ', 'La Bamba' (both by Felix Cavaliere), 'Photograph' (and for the encore) 'No No Song' and 'With A Little Help From My Friends' (all by Ringo).

Monday June 12

At 3:55pm JST, Ringo, accompanied by his wife Barbara, arrives at Japan's New Tokyo International (Narita) Airport on flight Northwest 001, en route from Los Angeles. Approximately 50 Beatles fans are there at the airport to welcome them on their arrival.

Tuesday June 13

Ringo and his band assemble in Tokyo where they hold a press conference.

The tour kicks off in Japan with performances at the following venues:

Iwate Kenmin Kaikan, Morioka (Wednesday June 14)

Sendai Sun-Plaza, Sendai (Thursday June 15)

Niigata Telsa, Niigata (Friday June 16)

Osaka Castle Hall, Osaka (Sunday June 18)

Kurashiki Shimin Kaikan, Kurashiki (Monday June 19)

Hiroshima Kousel Nenkin Kaikan, Hiroshima (Tuesday June 20)

Nagoya Century Hall, Nagoya (Thursday June 22)

Bay NK Hall, Uraysu (Saturday June 24)

Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo (Monday June 26 and Tuesday June 27)

Hamamatu Kyouiku Bunka Kaikan, Hamamatu (Wednesday June 28)

The tour moves to America, with the performances at:

The Arch, St. Louis, Missouri (Sunday July 2)

Milwaukee Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Monday July 3)

Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota (Tuesday July 4)

Ravinia Festival Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois (Wednesday July 5)

Highland Park, Illinois (Thursday July 6)

Star Plaza Theater, Merrilville, Indiana (Saturday July 8 - two shows)

Nautica Stage, Cleveland, Ohio (Sunday July 9)

Pine Knob Music Theater, Detroit, Michigan (Monday July 10)

First of America Stage, Acme, Michigan (Tuesday July 11)

Radio City Music Hall, New York (Thursday July 13)

Bud Light Amphitheater, Harvey's Lake, Pennsylvania (Friday July 14)

Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York (Saturday July 15)

Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA, Washington DC (Monday July 17)

Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey (Tuesday July 18)

Harbor Lights Pavilion, Boston, Massachusetts (Wednesday July 19)

Caesars, Atlantic City, New Jersey (Friday July 21, Saturday July 22 - two shows - and Sunday July 23)

Warwick Musical Theater, Warwick, Rhode Island (Tuesday July 25)

Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, Connecticut (Thursday July 27)

Starlite Music Theater, Latham, New York (Friday July 28)

Melody Fair Theater, North Tonawanda, New York (Saturday July 29)

Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (Monday July 31)

Light Amphitheater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Tuesday August 1)

Orlando Centroplex, Orlando, Florida (Thursday August 3)

Sunrise Musical Theater, Sunrise, Florida (Friday August 4 and Saturday August 5)

Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta, Georgia (Monday August 7)

Palace Theater, Louisville, Kentucky (Tuesday August 8)

Van Braun Civic Centre, Huntsville, Alabama (Wednesday August 9)

Arena Theater, Houston, Texas (Friday August 11)

Sunken Garden, San Antonio, Texas (Saturday August 12)

Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, Texas (Sunday August 13)

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Pheonix, Arizona (Tuesday August 15)

Humphrey's, San Diego, California (Wednesday August 16)

Greek Theater, Los Angeles, California (Friday August 18 and Saturday August 19)

Concord Pavilion, Concord, California (Sunday August 20)

Pier 62/63, Seattle, Washington (Tuesday August 22 and Wednesday August 23)

Dates were cancelled at:

Reno Hilton Amphitheater, Reno, Nevada (Friday August 25)

Star Of The Desert Amphitheater, Apple Valley, California (Saturday August 26)

Humphrey's, San Diego, California (Monday August 28)

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (Tuesday August 29, Thursday August 31 until Sunday September 3)

Japanese television begins transmitting the Ringo Suttar commercials, Ringo being Japanese for apple and Ringo Suttar a soft drink. On the All-Starr Band's arrival in the country, they immediately attend a press conference.

Wednesday June 14

A pre-taped interview with Ringo is aired on the Fuji Television programme Super Time.

Tuesday June 27

Almost 29 years after The Beatles last played this venue, Ringo and his band return to play at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese television station NHK-TV videotapes the 7:00pm JST show.

Thursday June 29

At 4:15pm JST, Ringo, Barbara, and the band leave Japan, on flight Northwest 012, en route to Detroit.

Thursday July 13

Ringo appears on the CBS TV programme This Morning, promoting the current American leg of his All-Starr Band tour.

Conclusion of tour

Ringo is forced to cancel the final shows of his tour when his youngest daughter Lee is rushed into the intensive care unit at a London clinic (on August 24) suffering from hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), a particularly dangerous illness. As Ringo leaves the hospital after visiting Lee, he tells reporters: "She had been feeling unwell and the next thing, she was here. I came as soon as I heard. We were desperately worried, but she is going to be all right. She is out of danger now. Lee had the operation (to drain the fluid from the brain) on Friday, and is now up and about. The best thing was to see her walking around." Ringo is naturally asked about his current American concerts. "We have cancelled the tour," he announces. "Family is more important, isn't it?" Ringo's rush to visit his sick daughter makes headline news around the globe in both the newspapers and on TV, where reports are featured, in the UK, on London News Tonight (Carlton ITV), the BBC Evening News (on August 28) and on GMTV the following morning, August 29.

Early this month, Neil Aspinall contacts Klaus Voorman, the former bassist for Manfred Mann and The Plastic Ono Band, to discuss designing the covers for The Beatles Anthology album and video releases. (Klaus, of course, had designed The Beatles' 1966 Revolver album sleeve.)

Paul visits the Abbey Road Studios in London where he spends time overdubbing the tapes he has just recorded with Steve Miller. Around this time, he splashes out £48,000 on suits from the Saville Row tailor Edward Sexton, who tells reporters: "We have an association with Mr. McCartney going back many years. He orders a lot of clothes from us."

Filming of the Anthology television series shifts to the Silverstone racetrack in Northamptonshire where George is filmed driving around in his red 1966 psychedelic mini. These scenes will appear during the Magical Mystery Tour sequence in the series.

In the States, the drama film Backbeat, focusing on the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirchner and The Beatles' days in Hamburg, Germany, is premiered on the Showtime pay cable network. (Further screenings on the station take place on June 23 and 28.)

ITV announces that they have outbid Britain's other television stations to secure the rights to broadcast The Beatles Anthology. The station have paid close to £5 million for the six-part series, while Channel 4, the long time favourites for the shows, dropped out of the bidding at £4.5 million. The BBC, The Beatles' own choice to screen the series, were apparently unimpressed with the early versions that they were shown and felt that the shows were not worth the £5 million asking price. Nevertheless, ITV announce today their success with the following (edited) press release:

"One of television's most long-awaited documentary series, in which The Beatles teil in their own words the story of their life and times, is to be shown on ITV this autumn. In addition to the six-part series, ITV has the rights for the UK TV premiere performance of the two new Beatles songs, 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love'.

"Commenting on the deal, ITV Network Director Marcus Plantin said, 'This is a coup for ITV. I'm truly delighted and proud that we are able to broadcast what must surely be one of the TV events of the decade.'

"Speaking from Apple's headquarters in West London, Neil Aspinall announced: 'The Beatles made their first television appearance on ITV, so it feels good that we should end up telling their story on ITV.' Although sales have been successfully concluded in America, the UK and other countries of the world, insiders report that a title for the series has yet to be agreed by all parties concerned."

Early announcements for the series reveal that it is due to be screened in 41 different countries and dubbed into 20 different languages. Excitement also starts shifting towards what will be The Beatles' 28th official single 'Free As A Bird'. When asked about this 'Beatles Comeback' single, Paul issues this statement:

"We just imagined that John had gone on holiday and had said to us, 'Finish them up, lads - I trust you.' It was like he said, 'Sorry I can't make the last session, so I leave it up to you guys to finish it off. Don't get too fussy.' Once we agreed to take that attitude, it gave us a lot of freedom - because it meant that we didn't have a sacred view of John. It was John the Beatle, John the crazy guy we remember. It was something that initially sounded impossible, but we've done it."

Paul's statement also went on to reveal why George, Ringo and himself had decided to make the documentary series: "We were fed up with every milkman's son writing books about us when they hadn't even met or talked to us."

Paul is seen leaving the Apple Productions offices in Wendell Road, West London, clutching early copies of the Anthology documentary series following a meeting with the producer Chips Chipperfield and the director Geoff Wonfor.

George is due today at the Apple Productions offices to view further work on the Anthology series, but fails to appear. He has supplied, from his own personal archive, the following clips for use in the documentaries: Juke Box Jury, his solo appearance on the BBC1 show from July 25, 1964, private colour home movie footage of his wedding to Patti on January 21, 1966, and film of The Beatles' last photographic session from August 22, 1969, at Tittenhurst Park in Ascot. The collection is insured for £1 million.

Reports this month indicate that The Beatles Anthology series has now been sold to 110 television channels around the world. Insiders on the series reveal that only two of the six parts have currently been concluded. ITV network chief Marcus Plantin announces that the station won the rights to screen The Beatles' own story "not because of the money paid, which was substantial, but because The Beatles had wanted an all-age audience only ITV could deliver." Meanwhile, Stuart Prebble, controller of ITV factual programmes, spoke about the ITV exclusive broadcasts of the 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love' songs: "We think the airing of these songs will be a real nation-stopping moment!" Finally, the excitement even reaches Steve Richmond, the editor-in-chief of Music Week magazine, when he enthuses about the group: "The Beatles will be the biggest campaign of the year... bigger even than Michael Jackson!"

Debate continues within The Beatles about how the home video version of Anthology will be released and, for that matter, how many will appear. The original idea proposed is for ten videos at approximately 90 minutes each. George rejects this because the number ten is "karmically wrong"!

Ringo meanwhile is very happy. Reports in America this month suggest that he has just been paid £500,000 to appear in a Pizza Hut commercial alongside three of the reformed Monkees, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. (This is, in fact, the second time Ringo had appeared with Davy in a television advert. The two crossed paths back in 1977 for the Simple Life leisure commercials for Japanese Television.)

In the UK, The Beatles' first manager Allan Williams, is present at the opening of the two-storey Beatles themed Pepper's Restaurant in Vernon Road, Scarborough.

Klaus Voorman attends a meeting at Apple Corps' London headquarters in Ovington Square, London, bringing with him a handful of sketch ideas for the Anthology covers. Also in attendance today is Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, David Saltz of ABC TV in America, and Rick Ward, the art director for the Anthology project.

On the tenth anniversary of Bob Geldof's historic Live Aid concert, Paul naturally features in the commemorative programmes, which are broadcast by the BBC today. Firstly, he makes his radio acting debut by appearing on the BBC Radio 4 programme Remembering Live Aid, which re-enacts the day's events of July 13th, 1985. Then later, this time on BBC2, a part of his concert performance is repeated in African Summer, a documentary about the historic show. During these tributes Paul is really to be found with Linda, leading an official victory parade through the streets of Rye, East Sussex, to celebrate the completion of the Rye Memorial Care Centre, a cause to which they had donated £800,000. The couple are joined later by their neighbour and close friend, the ex-Goon comic Spike Milligan.

George, meanwhile, is to be found in the audience at this evening's Ravi Shankar concert at the Barbican Centre in London.

In America, Yoko makes a brief appearance during the annual VH-1 Honours extravaganza.

In today's Independent On Sunday, Paul is primarily interviewed, by Cole Moreton, about his good work for the Memorial Care Centre, but the subject of the upcoming Anthology series of course comes into the conversation:

"It's deja vu really. We're sitting in Abbey Road Studio Two, where we always worked, listening to the work we did when we were 20. It is quite strange, but quite exciting as well. It's like being archaeologists. We're finding tracks that we didn't remember recording, that we didn't want, or thought, 'No, that's not too good.' Now, of course, after 30 years, they don't look too bad at all."

Paul is naturally asked why 30-year-old Beatle rejects are deemed good enough to release now. He replies by saying: "I believe there will be a bunch of people interested in the George Harrison song ('You'll Know What To Do') from 30 years ago that no one to this day has heard. It's not the greatest thing George ever wrote, but it's an undiscovered nugget. If you find a little Egyptian pot, it doesn't have to be the greatest Egyptian pot. The fact that it is Egyptian is enough."

In London, George and Olivia are guests at the secret Rolling Stones gig at the Brixton Academy, but turn down the offer of going to the after-concert party. Instead they slip away to visit his Stones pal Ronnie Wood, at his home in Richmond, for a quiet get-together with Ronnie, his brother Art and other friends. Also present this evening is Ronnie's wife Jo, his son Jessie and his official biographer Terry Rawlings. Terry opens the door to George who, when ringing the buzzer requesting to be let in, announces, "Hello, it's a burglar!" George sips tea throughout the evening and talks about Formula One motor racing, Bob Dylan, and his troubles with his former business partner Denis O'Brien. (The party ends at around 6am.)

Paul and Linda visit the LIPA site in Mount Street, Liverpool, to survey its progress.

The hype to the launch of The Beatles Anthology series begins in the UK, when the programmes are mentioned in trailers promoting the ITV autumn season. Meanwhile across the water in America, ABC TV announces that they are selling, for $300,000 a throw, a specially prepared 30-second Anthology TV trailer. Apparently they have been deluged with offers from TV companies to screen it. ABC's sales manager Robert Cagliero announces: "Sponsorship for the Anthology has sold more quickly than any special in our history!"

This month, in an attempt to change his unhealthy lifestyle, Ringo admits that he has given up smoking and drinking, regularly goes jogging and lives on a strict macrobiotic diet. This may have something to do with the fact he has just signed up with American credit card giant Discover. As part of this lucrative deal, the company will sponsor the current All-Starr Band American tour.

The song 'Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue', as it is now called, recorded by Paul, Yoko and their respective families, receives its premiere on the television station NHK-TV as part of the programme Good Morning Japan. The broadcast also includes a 10-minute interview with Yoko, who is reported to be planning a performance of the song in October at Japan's Itsukushima Shrine to the victims of the atomic bomb in Mayajima, an island close to Hiroshima, where many of the Japanese World War II kamikaze pilots spent their last days preparing for their suicide missions.

The worldwide excitement surrounding The Beatles Anthology continues unabated, helped by the appearance, this month, of an ABC TV five-minute promotional video tape distributed by the American station to the network's affiliated companies. For the lucky few who view this tape, it is the first glimpse anywhere of clips from the Anthology series.

At Abbey Road's Studio Two, Paul, along with Paul Weller and the Mojo Filters, who include the Oasis star Noel Gallagher, record a version of The Beatles' track 'Come Together' for inclusion on Brian Eno's War Child charity album Help! The track is recorded in one day, pressed the next and released, as part of the album on September 11, a process inspired by John's 'Instant Karma' back in February of 1970. Paul's re-recording of 'Come Together' is released as a single, on Go-Discs, on December 4. (The recordings of the War Child album are filmed for a Channel 4 television documentary.) Later Paul remarks about the session: "It reminded me a little of The Beatles' recordings, although with more drugs and booze!"

In order to gain complete access to The Beatles' photo archive at Apple, Klaus Voorman again returns to London, but this time he sets up shop downstairs at Apple's Ovington Square offices. Within two days, on Friday September 6, Klaus completes the final layouts for the Beatles Anthology cover designs.

Paul performs during the encore on 'Rave On' at the 20th annual Buddy Holly Week concert, held over two days at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London. Among the stars on this final night are Carl Perkins, Bobby Vee, Mike Berry, DJ Tony Prince and, of course, The Crickets.

Meanwhile, the latest Sotheby's auction, held in London today, is dubbed The Cynthia Lennon Collection - Part 2, comprising 18 items from her own private collection. Among the highlights offered for sale is John's "leather clad, metal-lined, bulbous barrel" which, according to Cynthia, John used to "stash his marijuana and cigarette papers in at home in Weybridge".

The documentary on the making of the Help! charity album, featuring Paul recording 'Come Together' with Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller, is transmitted tonight, in the UK, on Channel 4.

The promise of unreleased Beatles recordings to accompany the Anthology television series sees the light of day when Rogers & Cowan, Inc. of New York, a company representing Capitol Records, issue this press release:

"First new song in 25 years, 'Free As A Bird', along with previously unreleased music from the fab four, to be included.

"Capitol Records today put months, if not years of speculation to rest with the announcement that the first instalment of new and never-before-released music from The Beatles does exist and is slated for release worldwide on Monday November 20, 1995.

"The 40-track double CD, double cassette and triple vinyl album, entitled The Beatles Anthology Volume One, an unprecedented milestone in rock'n'roll history, will include previously unreleased material recorded between 1958-1964, as well as John Lennon's 'Free As A Bird', a brand new recording done earlier this year with Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The Anthology will contain previously unreleased material, mostly compiled from a variety of untapped sources including EMI, Polydor and Decca Records, and a variety of radio and television broadcasts.

"Songs featured include Beatles hits such as 'Love Me Do', 'Please Please Me', 'A Hard Day's Night', 'You Can't Do That', as well as never-before-heard tracks such as McCartney's 'In Spite Of All The Danger', Ray Charles' 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So' and Leiber & Stoller's 'Searchin' ', among others. Another of the album's many highlights is a recording of the vintage performance of 'All My Loving' heard live from The Beatles' historic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

"The release, set to coincide with the November airing of ABC's six-hour, three-part, three-night Beatles special, will be the first of what is anticipated to be three double CDs.

"The announcement comes on the heels of the enormous success of Live At The BBC, which sold nearly eight million copies worldwide."

ITV, and its advertising sales arm Laser, throw a Beatles-theme party for over 250 people at the London Television Centre on the South Bank to launch The Beatles Anthology series. The get-together also marks the first official screening of footage from the series, which includes the premiere screening of a colourized version of 'All You Need Is Love' from the June 1967 Our World live television programme. Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor attend on behalf of Apple, and music at the event is supplied by the group The Manfreds.

Beatles hysteria reaches the Sotheby's Auction in London today, when Paul's 1967 hand-written lyrics for 'Getting Better' sell for a world record price of £161,000!

In the UK, London Weekend Television issues a press release concerning The Beatles Anthology, a release slow in coming due to the ongoing dispute over the title for the series. (Apple at this point are still keen on The Beatles Story, while ITV prefer the, already established, Beatles Anthology.) The press release, which reveals even more information on the series, and comments from key figures in the making of the programmes, reads (in part):

"The series, which traces the Beatles phenomenon, features exclusive interviews with Paul, George and Ringo - some of which were conducted by Jools Holland - and incorporates a rich archive of interviews on audio and video tape left by the late John Lennon.

"Neil Aspinall, the driving force behind The Beatles Anthology, tells how the series came about: 'I said to Paul, George and Ringo: "Let's do it," and I realised that the one thing that we had, that nobody else had, no third party had, was access to interviews with the three surviving Beatles and all John's interviews - with Yoko's consent.' He continues: 'What I'd decided right from the beginning was not to have some mid-Atlantic commentator telling the Beatles' story. It was better for them to tell their own story. And this included John Lennon, too.'

"Editor Andy Mathews says: 'Early on in the first programme are their own personal pictures of childhood and all that, but their home movies of when they're on holiday -things that have never been seen - I think are the best.'

"With a production team of ten, and the mammoth task of researching nearly ten thousand pieces of footage and music, the project was no mean feat. Series director and writer, Bob Smeaton, reveals, 'Originally, the idea had been to start the programme with the Beatles' first record. I said to Geoff Wonfor (the director): "Don't you know we've got a programme here before they even form a band?" We were one hour into the programme and they hadn't even picked up their instruments ... that's when we realised how big the project was.'

"Adds producer Chips Chipperfield: 'Everybody here at Apple is very passionate about telling this story. It's a hell of a venture - it really is - and it's been quite something to be part of.'

"He admits that, while making the programme, he was overwhelmed by: 'The magnitude of it, the enormousness of the Beatles in terms of the impact they really had -not just on a generation, but on now. It really is phenomenal.' Chips continued: You can't pick up a paper or switch on your television without hearing about The Beatles thirty years down the line, and feel as if it's all happening over again. And it comes out in the music. Over and again- and always.'

"Director Geoff Wonfor says that while he was 'rediscovering' The Beatles, what really amazed him was the fact that: 'They were so tight - and some of the performances, the harmonies, were breathtaking.'

"Neil Aspmall explains how two new songs, featuring all four Beatles, were born out of the project: 'It was always one of Paul's things that if they were going to do it, it would be nice if they could somehow do new music, even if it was incidental music to go behind a piece of footage. And that's developed into 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love', which is a real bonus for everyone.' "

LWT also reveals that a November 8 date has been pencilled into their schedules for a media launch for the Anthology, but are unable to say where it will take place. Amongst the possibilities are the Cavern Club in Liverpool, their own LWT Studios on the South Bank or even the Abbey Road Studios in London.

Paul takes a breather from the Anthology hysteria by joining Linda on a flight to America to promote her new cookbook Linda's Kitchen.

In the UK, the Sun newspaper prints a "World Photo Exclusive" of Paul, George and Ringo, posing together at Apple's headquarters in London, on Friday March 31, 1995. (The last time the three appeared together in a picture was in 1981 at Ringo's wedding to Barbara Bach.) Subtitied "Got Back", the colour picture occupies almost the entire front page, with an alternative picture, this time in black and white, appearing inside the paper. With Paul appearing unsmiling, George with untidy hair and Ringo looking away from the camera, the first impression is that the photo was "sneaked" out of Apple's clutches. This hunch later proves to be true, when stories reveal that the snap actually came from long-time Apple staff photographer Tommy Hanley, who, apparently, sold the picture to the Sun, via its editor Stuart Higgins, for a cool £100,000!

Location filming of the 'Real Love' promotional video begins in Liverpool and is directed by Kevin Godley. The camera team films a scene with a white piano in the air against a backdrop of the Mersey and the Liver Building. Earlier, Kevin had visited The Beatles Shop in Mathew Street to buy some props for the shoot. (Location filming for the clip then moves to London on October 11.) The final editing on the clip is carried out in several London locations, firstly at Crowe in Shepherds Bush, which just happened to be right across the road from where The Beatles Anthology documentary series is being prepared. "If we needed access to any archive material at Apple, we could literally pop over the road to borrow it," Kevin remarked. He also later spoke about how the finished film came about. "I remembered seeing this extraordinary film which basically comprised John smiling for 55 minutes (Yoko's 1968 art film Smile). We then filmed 35mm identical contemporary film portraits of Paul, George and Ringo at 500 frames per second. When they are edited together it looked as if John was looking out from the past, from the other side, back at us. The whole semi-conscious idea of resurrection and stuff floating up came from there. Then we worked out the sequence of events for the rising of the piano and began to introduce the sessions footage, inserting specific things like the rising medals and Beatle instruments."

Due to the strict security surrounding the second Beatles comeback song, Kevin was not even furnished with the completed song to accompany the video, so he had to privately overdub his own vocal in place of the absent vocal lines for reference purposes only. "When Paul, George and Ringo looked at my first rough edit of the video they were listening to Paul, George, Ringo and Kev!" Godley also points out that Apple demanded the best for the song. "If you fuck up, you find out pretty quick," he remarks. "I think it took us just over a week to do a rough cut that was up to standard and their comments were interesting. Paul was happy with most things apart from a couple of shots. Ringo felt that the portraits should be smiling a little more. The criticism was pretty constructive. Probably the nicest thing about the video is that you actually get to see these guys working in the studio together for the first time in over 25 years, even though it's just a few glimpses. That's definitely one of the more positive attributes."

To help celebrate World Food Day, Linda's range of vegetarian food is given away free to the homeless. The campaign, organised by People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA), centres around the cafes in London's Farringdon area and is administered by The Big Issue, the magazine sold in aid of the homeless.

ITV reveals that the broadcast date for the first episode of The Beatles Anthology will be November 26, but an ITV spokesperson warns: "Network scheduling can change up to two weeks before broadcast, so that's not 100% confirmed, but it's pretty much what we'd like to go with."

At the Royal Albert Hall in London this evening, Paul joins the poet Allen Ginsberg on stage playing electric guitar for the finale, a recital of 'The Ballad Of The Skeletons', at the large poetry event entitled The Return Of The Forgotten.

"EMI Records and Apple can at last confirm the track listing for the double compact disc, double cassette and triple album The Beatles Anthology 1.

"The album, which will be released on 21st November, features an extraordinary 60 tracks, a combination of largely unreleased studio music, live recordings, radio and TV sessions and The Beatles' own private tapes.

"A huge amount of speculation has been building up in the media over the content of the Anthology project, which will also include a series of eight 75-minute videos, featuring film footage gathered from many sources, both public and private. As previously announced, the ITV network will screen the first hour of the remarkable six-hour documentary series on The Beatles on 26th November."

The Beatles Anthology 1 Track Listing (songs only) CD1: 'Free As A Bird' (a new recording featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo), 'That'll Be The Day' (Quarry Men 1958), 'In Spite Of All The Danger' (Quarry Men 1958), 'Hallelujah, I Love Her So', 'You'll Be Mine', 'Cayenne' (all home recordings from 1960), 'My Bonnie', 'Ain't She Sweet', 'Cry For A Shadow' (all from Hamburg 1961), 'Searchin' ', 'Three Cool Cats', 'The Sheik Of Araby', 'Like Dreamers Do', 'Hello Little Girl' (all from the Decca Records audition on January 1, 1962), 'Besame Mucho' (Abbey Road first session June 1962), 'Love Me Do' (first EMI version), 'How Do You Do It?' (September 4, 1962), 'Please Please Me' (September 11, 1962), 'One After 909' (sequence and complete version from March 5, 1963), 'Lend Me Your Comb' (BBC Radio), 'I'll Get You' (Sunday Night At The London Palladium) and 'I Saw Her Standing There', 'From Me To You', 'Money (That's What I Want)', 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' and 'Roll Over Beethoven' (all from Swedish radio in October 1963).

CD2: 'She Loves You', 'Till There Was You', 'Twist And Shout' (all from the 1963 Royal Variety show), 'This Boy', 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', 'Moonlight Bay' (from The Morecambe And Wise Show, recorded in December, 1963), 'Can't Buy Me Love' (take 2), 'All My Loving' (Ed Sullivan Show 1964), 'You Can't Do That' (outtake), 'And I Love Her' (outtake), 'A Hard Day's Night' (take 1), 'I Wanna Be Your Man', 'Long Tall Sally', 'Boys', 'Shout' (all from studio masters that were prepared for the Around The Beatles TV special in 1964), 'I'll Be Back' (takes 2 and 3), 'You'll Know What To Do' (George's second ever song from 1964), 'No Reply' (demo), 'Mr Moonlight' (Beatles For Sale outtake), 'Leave My Kitten Alone' (Beatles For Sale outtake), 'No Reply' (take 2), 'Eight Days A Week' (sequences and complete take), 'Kansas City'/'Hey-Hey-Hey' (Beatles For Sale outtake).

(Note: In-between the tracks, there are spoken words, introductions and comments from each of The Beatles. The Quarry Men's performance of 'In Spite Of All The Danger', The Beatles' only doo-wop ballad, appears here in an edited version, clocking in at 2' 45", while Paul's original priceless shellac acetate runs at 3' 25". The June 1962 recordings of 'Love Me Do' and 'Besame Mucho', featuring Pete Best on drums, were thought lost but were recently found at the back of a cupboard by George Martin's wife, Judy.)

George Martin: "I am trying to tell the story of The Beatles' lives in music, from the moment they met to the moment they split up in 1970. I have listened to everything we ever recorded together. Every take of every song, every track of every song, virtually everything that was ever committed to tape and labelled 'Beatles'. I've heard about 600 separate items in all. I didn't start any serious listening until early this year (May 22), when I got Paul, George and Ringo to come in occasionally and listen with me. Of course, they couldn't sit through all the sessions, so I would tend to have them come in about once a week."

Amongst tracks considered for the Anthology albums, but ultimately rejected were: 'Love Of The Loved' and 'To Know Her Is To Love Her' (Decca audition 1962), 'My Girl Is Red Hot' (Star Club, Hamburg 1962), 'She's A Woman' (Shea Stadium 1965), 'Paperback Writer' (EMI vocal only version), 'Nowhere Man' (Live in Tokyo 1966), 'Think For Yourself', 'Love You Too', 'Revolution', 'Hey La Le Lu'/'All Together Now' (all EMI outtakes), 'Something' (Abbey Road studios 1969 segued into a rambling piano jam) and the 27-minute version of 'Helter Skelter'.

The cookery book Linda's Kitchen, featuring over 200 new recipes by Linda McCartney is released in the UK.

In London, Klaus Voorman hands his completed Anthology 2 cover design into Apple at their offices in Ovington Square.

Location work on the 'Free As A Bird' promotional video begins in Liverpool. The director for this film, comprising titles and images gleaned from The Beatles' back catalogue from the sixties, is the American born Joe Pytka, well known in the industry for his US television commercials. The producer of the clip, Vincent Joliet, explains the shooting: "We shot the location scenes knowing that something was going to be added later. We had to find the right footage. With the accident scene, for example, we selected the best take and then looked at all the old footage for the shots of John's head and body movements that would fit best." (Further location work on the film will be carried out in London and Los Angeles, with the final editing being done alongside the ongoing location filming. Interestingly enough, among the parade of shops especially made for the 'Free As A Bird' video, a shop front called "Dylan's", a natural referral to Bob, is made but is not seen in the completed version of the film.)

The build-up to the official launch of The Beatles Anthology continues unabated when today in America, on the WPVI TV5 breakfast show AM Philadelphia, the series is previewed with excerpts from the official Anthology EPK (electronic press kit) and an exclusive conversation, by phone, with the American reporter Mark Hertsgaard, who tells of how he has already heard some of the unreleased tracks to be released on The Beatles Anthology 1 album. Joining guests in the studio during this lengthy feature is The Beatles' first manager Allan Williams who brings with him a pair of Paul's old leather trousers, as worn by him during the group's time in Hamburg in the early Sixties.

In an exclusive interview with Thomas Quinn of the Daily Express newspaper, Paul speaks of his bitterness at living in the shadow of John Lennon's martyrdom: "There are those who think John was The Beatles. That is not true and he would be the first to tell you that."

During the first part of the month, ABC TV in America begins running the trailer: "Imagine The Beatles back together again - All four! - John, Paul, George and Ringo -But how? - John left two unfinished songs - And the remaining Beatles have completed his music - It's The Beatles like you've never heard them before! - Reunited in words and music - The Beatles Anthology - Coming November 19 - On A Beatles C."

To tie in with the Anthology promotions, Linda is appointed the official Beatles photographer. Her agent, Robby Montgomery, charges £2,000 per image of the three re-formed Beatles, whether in colour or black and white, posing together for the first time since 1981 at Ringo's London wedding to Barbara.

Shout! author Philip Norman reveals in the Daily Mail newspaper that, contrary to popular belief, it was George and Neil Aspinall and not Paul, who had originally contacted Yoko with the view of adding new instruments to John's existing demo tracks, and that Yoko merely used the 1994 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as an event to hand over the tapes to Paul with all the plans for the songs being concluded before then.

The three Beatles, affectionately called The Threatles, appear on the cover of this month's issue of Q magazine.

In the States, the E! (Entertainment) Network broadcasts a 46-minute documentary entitled The Beatles On E!, which is presented by Martin Lewis who is seen on location at Beatles sites in both London and Liverpool. Further Beatles reflective programmes in America this month include another unofficial version, simply called The Beatles Story, which is aired on the A & E (Arts and Entertainment) Channel.

Yoko Ono makes another live appearance on CNN's Larry King Live in America, where she naturally discusses 'Free As A Bird'.

The first (51-minute) episode of The Beatles Anthology is previewed at the BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards in London's Piccadilly. This is immediately followed by a press conference where the series director GeoffWonfor and the director/writer Bob Smeaton, as well as Stuart Prebble, the head of ITV's factual programmes, take questions from the waiting journalists. Representing Apple are both Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor.

In America this morning, Anthology promotions continue, this time on the New York television programme Day & Date. Besides showing the familiar clips of the Anthology EPK, the programme also repeats, for the first time in 17 years, fascinating colour clips of John and Paul being interviewed by the reporter Larry Kane on Tuesday May 14, 1968, during their visit to New York to launch Apple.

Also in America radio station WABC broadcasts a special entitled Beatles '95, including a new interview with Paul.

George attends the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. Following Damon Hill's victory in the race, on November 12, George gives a sneak preview of 'Free As A Bird' to Hill during the after-race celebration party. "I wanted Damon to be the first to hear it," George announces joyfully, adding: "After he won, I thought it was the perfect moment." During his stay in Adelaide, George also gives an exclusive interview to Frank Pengello of the Australian television programme Today Tonight, where, during the 10-minute feature, questions naturally take on a Beatles-related theme.

On his time with The Beatles: "The Beatles, for me, are a bit like a suit or a shirt I once wore and unfortunately, I don't mean this in a bitter way, a lot of people look at that suit and think it's me. The reality is that I'm this soul in the body, The Beatles was this thing we did for a few years and it was such a big thing. It's amazing that people keep going on about it."

On 'Free As A Bird': "I think (John) would like it, in fact I said to them (Paul and Ringo) I hope someone does this to all my crap demos when I'm dead, making them into hit songs!"

ABC TV in the States transmits the trailer: "The Beatles Anthology - The television event of a lifetime - Two new Beatles songs - Words you've never heard before -Footage you've never seen before - How did it feel to change the world?"

Also on Saturday November 11, this time in the States, NBC TV (Channel 10), during the show Time Out, again promotes the upcoming Anthology series with further clips from the Anthology EPK and a short clip of Yoko on the set other first American sitcom appearance.

ABC TV in America screens the Beatles Anthology trailer: "Words you've never heard before - Footage you've never seen before - And the first new Beatles song in 25 years!"

Eager to cash in on the huge current interest in The Beatles, VCI, in conjunction with both MPI and Apple, re-releases in the UK on home video, A Hard Day's Night and Help!, both with additional newsreel clips, unavailable on the previous editions. Also today, the American documentary The Making Of A Hard Day's Night is released in England for the first time. (An item previously available in America as You Can't Do That - The Making Of A Hard Day's Night.)

The excitement surrounding The Beatles Anthology continues when huge advertising billboards for the series, bearing the slogan "You Haven't Heard Anything Yet", begin to spring up across England. (A second phase of advertising takes place on December 16 lasting until November 30.) While in America, the ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America again previews The Beatles Anthology by featuring an interview with George Martin, who is seen playing songs from the Anthology 1 album.

"Two new Beatles songs - The most anticipated event in 30 years - An event no one thought would ever happen!" - ABC TV Beatles Anthology trailer.

An exclusive, pre-taped, interview with Yoko, in which she talks about how she helped with the current Beatles reunion, is featured on the US TV show Inside Edition. The item is naturally included among further promotions for The Beatles Anthology.

The final edited version of the 'Free As A Bird' video is delivered to Apple in London. Once Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor have given their blessings, a broadcast master is immediately dispatched to ABC TV in America for its premiere tomorrow night. Paul gave a "thumbs up" after having viewed the first edits during the previous week. (Both George and Ringo gave their blessing to the clip after being sent VHS copies to their homes.) The director Joe Pytka delivered a copy personally to Yoko at her Dakota apartment. He remarks: "Yoko absolutely loved the video!"

On the eve of the great launch for the Anthology television series in America, VH-1 broadcasts the 23-minute programme entitled Get Back - The Beatles Reunion, an archive based show hosted by Anthony DeCurtis. Over this special Beatles Weekend, the station gets into the Beatlemania kick by broadcasting five hours of Beatles-related programming, including (broadcast straight after the previously mentioned documentary) the drama film The Hours And The Times, focusing on the so-called relationship between John and Brian Epstein in 1963, and the 1972 concert film John Lennon Live In New York City. In addition, the rest of the time is made up of Beatles-and solo-related promotional clips which include (at 4pm Eastern) back-to-back screenings of a selection of Paul's videos.

ABC TV in America increases excitement by screening the television trailer: "In one day - It's the television event of our lifetime - The incredible music you've always loved -Plus two new Beatles songs - The Beatles Anthology - Tomorrow!"

At last, following months of extreme hype, the long awaited Beatles Anthology television series finally premieres on America TV on the ABC ('A Beatles C') television station. Part one this evening is transmitted between 9:00 and 10:59 EST; with an estimated audience of over 48 million watching the show! Due to an exclusive "first airing" agreement between Apple and ABC TV ('A Beatles C') in America, the first worldwide premiere playing of 'Free As A Bird', frequently advertised as the first new Beatles song in 25 years, begins at approximately 10:55 EST, rounding off part one of the series. The anticipation to the hearing of this new Beatles song is huge, to put it mildly. The excitement is further helped, during the playing of the 'Penny Lane' promotional film, by a 60 seconds "on-screen" numbered countdown. Then, in a military style manoeuvre, a Capitol Records representative in New York, who is on hand with a mobile phone, calls an EMI colleague at London's Abbey Road studios and informs him exactly when the first 'Free As A Bird' airing, and indeed the first part of the Anthology television series, has reached its natural conclusion. At approximately 3:59am (UK time), the excitement of hearing the first new BeaUes single in a quarter of a century is about to reach England.

Meanwhile in Holland this evening, in one of the biggest security operations ever undertaken by EMI, the excitement continues when the initial printed stock of The Beatles Anthology 1 (on CD, album and cassette), is shipped from Holland at midnight (European time) to destinations all over Europe.

In the UK at approximately 4:00am. Abbey Road Studios begin to distribute to various stations around England special CD-Rs (recordable compact discs) of 'Free As A Bird'. Naturally, with a guaranteed large audience expectancy, one of the stations to receive this "Beatles Collectible" item is BBC Radio One who, at approximately 4:07am, play the single for the first time anywhere in the UK.

As the morning progresses, more and more UK radio stations play the track. The ITV breakfast station GMTV arranges for a live broadcast to take place from the new Cavern Club in Mathew Street, Liverpool, where the song is played before a large crowd of excited Beatles followers waiting in anticipation of hearing the new Beatles song.

The promotional video to accompany the song is also a major unveiling. Original plans to premiere broadcast both the song and the video at the end of this evening's ITV network special All Together Now (broadcast between 8:01 and 8:28pm) are soon shelved when clips of this video appear on Channel 4's Big Breakfast Show this morning, as well as the TV news broadcasts throughout the day on the BBC, ITN and Channel 4. The reactions to the song though are mixed.

Following the hype of the Anthology television series and the single 'Free As A Bird', comes the launch of the album. Described by EMI as "the most complex ship-out in the distributor's history", the day begins at 7:00am, when the huge Anthology stock, again under strict security, reaches the EMI distribution plant in Hayes, Middlesex from Holland. Several megastores, namely Virgin and HMV, strike a deal with EMI to receive their orders in advance and to open at midnight in order to sell copies of the album early.

The official Beatles Anthology press conference takes place this morning in the Lancaster rooms of London's prestigious Savoy Hotel, where, before a capacity crowd of 400 journalists and cameramen, George Martin, Derek Taylor, Jeff Lynne, Neil Aspinall and EMI's Rupert Perry, answer questions from the media and later pose for photographs. The normally shy and retiring Neil Aspinall is asked about his legendary low profile. "It's not that I've deliberately avoided interviews," he replies. "It's just that I've always felt the questions about The Beatles were better answered by themselves." Derek Taylor is asked where The Beatles are today. "They are all at home, everywhere else but here," he replies.

George Martin is naturally asked why he did not produce 'Free As A Bird'. "Jeff Lynne has done a brilliant job, and having heard it now, I wish I had produced it. Because, if anything, it would have given me 30 number ones, instead of 29. I've been working on Anthology 1 all year, and if I had to choose between working on the single or the album, I'd have chosen Anthology, because it's the bigger one."

The get-together also features a press premiere of the song 'Free As A Bird' which is played twice, once accompanied by the single's picture sleeve, and the other alongside the special promotional video. On both occasions, a large round of applause greets the song's finale. Later tonight, a complete screening of the 'Free As A Bird' promo video is shown at the end of the Granada/ITV network tribute programme All Together Now, which features interviews with celebrities who reminisce about The Beatles.

In America, the day begins with Ringo appearing at 7:01am (EST time), by way of satellite from his home in Monte Carlo, on the ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America, where he reminisces about his Beatles days, talks about the recording of 'Free As A Bird' and naturally discusses the Anthology project. This lengthy Beatles segment also features a live report from the radio station WZLX in Boston which is, this morning, playing Beatles music non-stop and airs another complete screening of the video for 'Free As A Bird'. The video's director, Joe Pytka, is interviewed for the programme, by satellite from Los Angeles, at 7:44am.

The album The Beatles Anthology 1 is finally released simultaneously worldwide. In America alone, initial orders are reported to be around 3.5 million, worth around $60-70 million.

The first week of Anthology 1 sales reveal 121,000 copies sold in the UK, and 855,500 alone through the American Best Buy chain stores.

Due to the huge sales of Anthology 1, The Beatles' former drummer Pete Best receives a seven-figure royalty cheque, thanks to the ten tracks he plays on during the album. Pete is, at last, recognised for his contribution to the group, even going as so far as to review the discs in the Sun newspaper, where, as expected, he describes Anthology 1 as: "The Beatles' greatest ever album," adding "and not because I'm on it!" He also goes on to write: "For me, the poignant tracks are those that I was involved in. Frankly, I'm bloody proud and believe they really stand the test of time." Further money for the sacked Beatles dmmmer comes in the shape of a one-off Heineken beer commercial, which is screened on ITV during the second part of the Anthology TV broadcasts. Original plans to screen the 15-second commercial during the opening part, in which he is featured, are scuppered by Apple because they felt this was a "piss take". (For his appearance, Pete receives a cool £10,000.)

On the subject of Pete Best's good fortune, Derek Taylor, of Apple, comments: "Pete will earn a decent amount of money, which is only right. He is a good man and he deserves it. This is a new chapter for Pete."

The second part of The Beatles Anthology is transmitted on ABC TV, just like the first part, between 9:00 and 11:00 EST.

The concluding part of the Anthology series is screened tonight on ABC TV between 8:00 and 10:00 EST. The viewers figures have by now dropped to an estimated 25 million.

While in the UK, in an attempt to foil the bootleggers, the ITV Network (between 8:00 and 8:04pm), screens the video to accompany The Beatles' second comeback single 'Real Love', in a five-minute programme, aptly titled The Beatles - Real Love. The video to accompany the song was directed by the former member of 10cc Kevin Godley, and comprised archive clips from the Sixties and the Geoff Wonfor footage of Paul, George and Ringo recording the song at The Mill, East Sussex, on February 6 and 7 this year.

Derek Taylor appears as a special guest on the BBC2 late night music show Later With Jools Holland. Besides an interesting, Beatles-related, conversation with Derek and the host Holland, the programme transmits, for the first time anywhere in the world, a clip from the "lost" videotaped performance of 'Long Tall Sally' from The Beatles' Washington Coliseum concert on February 11, 1964. (Although promoted as a special one-off broadcast, the clip had, in fact, been prepared for a simultaneous limited release to various important music-related stations across America and Europe.)

Three days after the series had finished in America, The Beatles Anthology premieres in the UK across the ITV network. The first programme attracts estimated viewing figures of 14.3 million people.

Channel 4, in the UK, broadcasts a most unflattering documentary on The Beatles, a controversial "warts and all" look at the history of the group's financial empire. The 50-minute profile is titled All You Need Is Cash.

In the UK, George's wife Olivia issues a statement announcing that "a seven-figure sum from the proceeds of The Beatles Anthology will be donated to the Romanian Angel appeal."

Ringo, at his home in Monte Carlo, personally signs the Gartlan USA limited edition Ringo Starr figurines (see entry for April 1996).

The second part of The Beatles Anthology is transmitted in the UK. (The viewing figures have fallen slightly to 11.6 million.)

'Free As A Bird', The Beatles' 28th official EMI single, is released on a 7-inch single, a 4-track CD and on a cassette. (120, 000 copies will be sold in its first week). Within 19 hours of its release today, it is estimated that approximately 20 million people in the UK (a third of the population) have heard the song.

EMI in America releases Yoke's first solo album in ten years, entitled Rising, which features her son Sean on acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and backing vocals. (The UK release takes place on January 15, 1996.) To coincide with its release, Yoko appears this evening on the CNN programme Larry King Live for the third time.

In London, a routine hospital scan reveals a small malignant tumour in one of Linda's breasts. An immediate operation is recommended.

In America, Paul's 1967 soundtrack album The Family Way is reissued on CD and cassette.

'Free As A Bird' enters the BBC singles music chart at number two, beaten to the top spot by Michael Jackson's 'Earth Song'. Paul, in particular, is believed to be most upset by this. When Jackson's song keeps The Beatles' single from the coveted number one slot at Christmas, the bosses at Sony, Jackson's label, celebrate their good fortune by cheekily sending the bosses at EMI a large turkey "stuffed" with The Beatles' 'Free As A Bird' CD. Meanwhile, the third part of The Beatles Anthology is transmitted in the UK. Sadly, the viewing figures again slump, this time to just under 10.4 million.

It is publicly confirmed that Linda McCartney has been diagnosed as suffering from breast cancer. "Linda had a scan at the Princess Grace Hospital in London and was found to have a lump," Paul announces, adding, "She has had an operation to remove the lump which was performed successfully. Lucky it was caught in time!"

Pauline Sutcliffe, sister of former Beatle Stuart, issues, through the Liverpool solicitors of Silverbeck Rymer, a writ against Apple Corps Ltd. in respect of the deal offered to her for the use of Stu's recorded material, which appeared on the album The Beatles Anthology 1.

The fourth show of The Beatles Anthology is transmitted in the UK. The viewing figures slump again, this time to 8.7 million.

ABC TV (formerly 'A Beatles C' for the recent Anthology documentary series) broadcasts a 22-minute Christmas Day Beatles television special, entitled With A Little Help From My Friends. The station claimed the show was "made with no help from Apple!"

Due to the rearranged ITV Christmas schedule, programme planners shift part five of The Beatles Anthology to Boxing Day. Not surprisingly the viewing figures drop again, this time to a very poor 3.8 million.

The concluding part of the Anthology is shown on ITV on New Year's Eve. Even though schedulers have returned the series to its already established Sunday night slot, the viewing figures still reach an all-time low of 2.9 million.